diff --git a/src/models/room-state.js b/src/models/room-state.js
index 6c9c2180e..061217d16 100644
--- a/src/models/room-state.js
+++ b/src/models/room-state.js
@@ -246,6 +246,47 @@ RoomState.prototype.getUserIdsWithDisplayName = function(displayName) {
     return this._displayNameToUserIds[displayName] || [];
 };
 
+/**
+ * Returns true if userId is in room, event is not redacted and either sender of
+ * mxEvent or has powerlevel sufficient to redact events other than their own.
+ * @param {MatrixEvent} mxEvent The event to test permission for
+ * @param {string} userId The user ID of the user to test permission for
+ * @return {boolean} true if the given used ID can redact given event
+ */
+RoomState.prototype.maySendRedactionForEvent = function(mxEvent, userId) {
+    const member = this.getMember(userId);
+    if (!member || member.membership === 'leave') return false;
+
+    if (mxEvent.isRedacted()) return false;
+    if (mxEvent.getSender() === userId) return true;
+
+    return this._hasSufficientPowerLevelFor('redact', userId);
+};
+
+/**
+ * Returns true if the given user ID has sufficient power level for type
+ * @param {string} type The type of power level to check against
+ * @param {string} userId The user ID of the user to test permission for
+ * @return {boolean} true if the given user ID has sufficient power level
+ */
+RoomState.prototype._hasSufficientPowerLevelFor = function(type, userId) {
+    const member = this.getMember(userId);
+
+    const power_levels_event = this.getStateEvents('m.room.power_levels', '');
+
+    let power_levels;
+    if (power_levels_event) {
+        power_levels = power_levels_event.getContent();
+    }
+
+    let required_level = power_levels.state_default || 50;
+    if (power_levels[type] !== undefined) {
+        required_level = power_levels[type];
+    }
+
+    return member.powerLevel >= required_level;
+};
+
 /**
  * Short-form for maySendEvent('m.room.message', userId)
  * @param {string} userId The user ID of the user to test permission for
@@ -269,7 +310,6 @@ RoomState.prototype.maySendEvent = function(eventType, userId) {
     return this._maySendEventOfType(eventType, userId, false);
 };
 
-
 /**
  * Returns true if the given MatrixClient has permission to send a state
  * event of type `stateEventType` into this room.